There is established an AO zone—Airport overlay zone and the regulations and standards for land uses permitted within. This zone includes the land owned and leased by the city of Lynden for the purpose of owning and operating a municipal airport, together with the land adjacent with said property extending one hundred fifty feet north and one hundred fifty feet south of the edge of the runway pavement. Also included are Lots 1 through 6 of the Milky Way Subdivision, providing they have access to a paved taxiway. All land within the AO zone is located with frontage on the Lynden Municipal Airport, a paved taxiway, or a designated runway safety zone.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010; Ord. No. 1574, § C, 3-4-2019)

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the lives and property of people who live or work in the vicinity of the airport, and the aircraft pilots and their passengers, by regulating the land use and the height of structures and trees to prevent the establishment of airport hazards, restricting the establishment of incompatible land uses near the airport, and requiring the marking and lighting of new and existing obstructions within the AO zone.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

1.

Landing, take-off, and flight of private aircraft by licensed pilots.

2.

Business incidental to and necessary for airport operations including:

A.

Airport offices,

B.

Public restrooms,

C.

Hangers,

D.

Gas and oil sales, for aircraft only,

E.

Light repair shops,

Providing however, that these uses take place in an area with an underlying zone of IBZ.

3.

Residentially based aircraft and hangars, providing however, that no repair work is done except exchange of parts and maintenance requiring no open flame, welding or the use of a Class I or II liquids as defined by the International Fire Code. This use may only occur where the underlying zone is RS-100.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

A.

The airport shall not be used by unlicensed pilots or by persons not registered by the United States Ultralight Association.

B.

No uses shall be permitted that interfere with the normal flight of aircraft.

C.

No uses shall be permitted that interfere with communications with other aircraft or base units.

D.

No uses shall be permitted which would make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airports and other lights or result in glare in the eyes of pilots using the airport.

E.

No uses shall be permitted that would impair visibility of the airport.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

"Airport" means any area of land designed and set aside for the landing and taking off of aircraft and utilized in the interest of the public for such purpose. In this chapter, airport refers to the Lynden Airport.

"Airport hazard" means any structure or tree or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight, landing or taking off of aircraft.

"Airport hazard area" means any area of land upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided in this chapter.

"Runway" means a defined area on an airport prepared for landing and take-off of aircraft along its length.

"Structure" means an object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formation, and overhead transmission lines.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

No residential dwelling unit, office space, fueling facility or repair shop shall be located closer than ninety-five feet to the runway centerline. Aircraft hangars and tie down facilities shall not be located closer than seventy-five feet to the runway centerline.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

Residentially based aircraft are permitted in the AO zone. This access shall be limited to those residential property owners meeting the criteria of this chapter and the underlying zone. It is required that all residential hangers are connected by a paved surface to an airport runway or taxiway.

Residential airport access is intended for personal aviation related activities and may not be used for commercial purposes, including rental of hanger space.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

Except as noted below and in Section 19.55.060, all residential setbacks are permitted in [Section] 19.15.060, and setbacks in the industrial zone are as noted in Section 19.25.120.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

Except as noted in Section 19.55.060, hangars may be permitted as close as five feet to the property line, provided, however, that no openings are located on those walls, as provided in current building code as adopted by the city of Lynden.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

1.

The height and square footage of residential aircraft hangars are limited by the current building code as adopted by the city of Lynden, provided however, that the maximum height may not exceed twenty-five feet in height at the peak of the roof using the definition of building height in Section 17.01.030 of the Lynden Municipal Code.

2.

Residential hangars are considered accessory structures to a single-family home and must be located on a parcel with a single-family residence.

3.

The maximum lot coverage on a residential lot within the AO zone shall be thirty-five percent. Lot coverage on industrial lots shall be forty-five percent.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

All business located within the AO zone must meet those parking requirements outlined in Chapter 19.48. The airport must provide .5 parking spaces per airplane based at the Lynden Airport.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

A.

Any permit or variance issued for any structure or use in any airport zone where there are height limitations may be conditioned on the installation, operation, and maintenance of markers and lights indicating the presence of an airport hazard. Required markers shall not interfere with the safe flight of aircraft (See Restricted Uses, this chapter). These markers and/or lights shall be installed, operated, and maintained by the owner of the hazard.

B.

The owner of any existing structure or use that is considered an airport hazard may be required to permit the installation, operation, and maintenance of markers or lights. The marking and lighting of existing airport hazards shall be installed, operated, and maintained at the owner's expense.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)

All aircraft based from the Lynden Airport will require an access permit to be granted by the city of Lynden, with fees set by resolution of the city council. Access for residential properties will be considered complete when the residential taxiway is connected to the airport runway or taxiway.

(Ord. No. 1374, § B, 2-16-2010)